(CNS): The government dug out the golden shovels recently in order to break ground on an extension of the Frank Sound fire station. The 1,700 sqft expansion will be large enough to house the station’s three new customised trucks and will also provide facilities for female staff. The equipment was bought by the previous administration but had been stored in the US when plans for the Bodden Town Emergency Centre were abandoned. The trucks were recently brought to Cayman however to cater to the growing needs of the Eastern Districts, the Premier said.

Mckeeva Bush said that Bodden Town, North Side and East End had collectively seen tremendous growth by over 145 percent since the station was built in 1984, requiring provision of better public safety infrastructure. Since the trucks contain special electronics that need to be protected from the weather, the $250,000 expansion received the green light despite the economic crunch, he explained.

Thanking fire staff for their sterling efforts, Bush also revealed that a committee was to be appointed which would examine the viability of a voluntary or auxiliary fire service team serving in a supporting role.

Chief Fire Officer Dennom Bodden welcomed the expansion at the Frank Sound fire station but said it would not address the urgent and growing need to reduce the Fire Service response time to emergencies in the Bodden Town district, which has been experiencing rapid growth.

He also added that upgrades to the West Bay fire station were also needed in order to be able to accommodate female staff.

Local construction company Barnes Construction Ltd was awarded the contract for the Frank Sound expansion.